Okada is a program coordinator for the Australian Disability Network for their mentoring program. Brooks. On the line. Brook. Hello.

Okada is a program coordinator for the Australian Disability Network for their mentoring program. Brooks. On the line. Brook. Hello.

Hi, Peter. How are you?

Hi, Peter. How are you?

I'm very well. You're open for business or you're ready for applications?

I'm very well. You're open for business or you're ready for applications?

We absolutely are ready for applications for mentees that want to participate in the Career Mentoring program.

We absolutely are ready for applications for mentees that want to participate in the Career Mentoring program.

That's about how it all works.

That's about how it all works.

Yes. So, Peter, the career mentoring program, just a quick overview. It's, um, matches a one on one mentor with a with a mentee. So, uh, there is a mentees that, uh, have, uh, a disability or identify as having a disability, and they can be either a student, a graduate, or just a job seeker. Many, many reasons for why they might be wanting to get back into the workforce or start in the workforce, and they are matched together for about a four month period, where they meet together to work on all sorts of career goals. And our mentors are from leading, uh, Organisations around Australia, so the mentees get a lot out of it in terms of building their employability skills. But it's also designed so that our mentors can build what we call their disability confidence as well.

Yes. So, Peter, the career mentoring program, just a quick overview. It's, um, matches a one on one mentor with a with a mentee. So, uh, there is a mentees that, uh, have, uh, a disability or identify as having a disability, and they can be either a student, a graduate, or just a job seeker. Many, many reasons for why they might be wanting to get back into the workforce or start in the workforce, and they are matched together for about a four month period, where they meet together to work on all sorts of career goals. And our mentors are from leading, uh, Organisations around Australia, so the mentees get a lot out of it in terms of building their employability skills. But it's also designed so that our mentors can build what we call their disability confidence as well.

We have two way street, the old win win. What about as far as timing goes? So there's a little bit of time for people to kind of get their applications in. So I guess you've got to kind of apply. So it's just a matter of here I am. When do I start? You've got to go through a process.

We have two way street, the old win win. What about as far as timing goes? So there's a little bit of time for people to kind of get their applications in. So I guess you've got to kind of apply. So it's just a matter of here I am. When do I start? You've got to go through a process.

Yeah, absolutely. So the applications are done through our website, which directs you to a brand new platform that we're using called Mentor Loop. And we collect a lot of details about the applicant, and we use all of that to match people with it, with their mentor, so that we can get the best match possible. You know, things that they have in common as well as their studies and goals, but they're their hobbies, um, as, as as well. And our applications are still open for another couple of months as well. So there's a little bit of time. So we match in about April. So I think that's roughly um sometime in, in in March that they, they do close. So there's still a bit of time for those that want to apply.

Yeah, absolutely. So the applications are done through our website, which directs you to a brand new platform that we're using called Mentor Loop. And we collect a lot of details about the applicant, and we use all of that to match people with it, with their mentor, so that we can get the best match possible. You know, things that they have in common as well as their studies and goals, but they're their hobbies, um, as, as as well. And our applications are still open for another couple of months as well. So there's a little bit of time. So we match in about April. So I think that's roughly um sometime in, in in March that they, they do close. So there's still a bit of time for those that want to apply.

All right. Slowly. Now for people who might be aware this has been going for a while, hasn't it? I guess you kind of can learn from previous experiences. So the program kind of keeps improving as we go along.

All right. Slowly. Now for people who might be aware this has been going for a while, hasn't it? I guess you kind of can learn from previous experiences. So the program kind of keeps improving as we go along.

Absolutely. Peter. Yeah, each each each cohort, our team comes together. So we run I should say that we run two cohorts a year. So at the moment we are in what we call our autumn cohort, which um, when people are matched, that goes from April to August. And then our next cohort goes from August to December. But at the end of each of those cohorts, our team do come together. Um, we get a lot of feedback from the mentees throughout the program and also our own side as well of how we can provide the best experience and improve the program. Um, but it has been going for, I believe, just over a decade. I think it's in about it's its 12th year, possibly even longer.

Absolutely. Peter. Yeah, each each each cohort, our team comes together. So we run I should say that we run two cohorts a year. So at the moment we are in what we call our autumn cohort, which um, when people are matched, that goes from April to August. And then our next cohort goes from August to December. But at the end of each of those cohorts, our team do come together. Um, we get a lot of feedback from the mentees throughout the program and also our own side as well of how we can provide the best experience and improve the program. Um, but it has been going for, I believe, just over a decade. I think it's in about it's its 12th year, possibly even longer.

Yeah. Fantastic. What about in terms of where people live, Brooke? Does that matter?

Yeah. Fantastic. What about in terms of where people live, Brooke? Does that matter?

Absolutely not. So, um, we do it is run across the country. But the great thing about the career mentoring program is that, um, you have the option and we do collect this when you are applying, you have the option to select whether you'd like to meet your mentee in person. So obviously that requires people to be in the same states. But we also have the option for people to participate virtually in the program as well, meaning that sometimes we do have people from different states matched together in different areas as well, but that allows us to do a bit of a further reach as well. So absolutely no problem. Where you're based in Australia.

Absolutely not. So, um, we do it is run across the country. But the great thing about the career mentoring program is that, um, you have the option and we do collect this when you are applying, you have the option to select whether you'd like to meet your mentee in person. So obviously that requires people to be in the same states. But we also have the option for people to participate virtually in the program as well, meaning that sometimes we do have people from different states matched together in different areas as well, but that allows us to do a bit of a further reach as well. So absolutely no problem. Where you're based in Australia.

It's so important, isn't it, because there are people with disabilities that live in country areas and it's great if they can get the same opportunity. And what about the other kind of end of the seesaw? If I can put it so you look for mentees, which is great. How do you go for finding mentors?

It's so important, isn't it, because there are people with disabilities that live in country areas and it's great if they can get the same opportunity. And what about the other kind of end of the seesaw? If I can put it so you look for mentees, which is great. How do you go for finding mentors?

Uh, so our mentors are a little bit different. So the Australian Disability Network is a member based organisation. We have around about 450 different organisations that are members of us, and they get access to the program by being a member and choosing to do the program. And that's where our mentors come through. So they opt to do it, and then they go off and put an expression of interest in their organisation. And that's how we get we get our mentors for the program.

Uh, so our mentors are a little bit different. So the Australian Disability Network is a member based organisation. We have around about 450 different organisations that are members of us, and they get access to the program by being a member and choosing to do the program. And that's where our mentors come through. So they opt to do it, and then they go off and put an expression of interest in their organisation. And that's how we get we get our mentors for the program.

It's such a great point. You made pretty much at the beginning regarding mentors and what they can get out of it. That is so important as well, because it's kind of not just this particular intake, but kind of the long term benefits of something like this as well.

It's such a great point. You made pretty much at the beginning regarding mentors and what they can get out of it. That is so important as well, because it's kind of not just this particular intake, but kind of the long term benefits of something like this as well.

Yeah, absolutely. You know, our mission is really to, um, you know, create a disability confident Australia. You know, the the unemployment rates are not moving the way that we'd like them to. But we're out there. We're trying. And the way to do that is one, give mentees the opportunity to gain their employability skills, but also to be out there within our organizations and helping them improve to so that they are able to support people when they are meeting with them, or if they do have people with a disability in their organization as well.

Yeah, absolutely. You know, our mission is really to, um, you know, create a disability confident Australia. You know, the the unemployment rates are not moving the way that we'd like them to. But we're out there. We're trying. And the way to do that is one, give mentees the opportunity to gain their employability skills, but also to be out there within our organizations and helping them improve to so that they are able to support people when they are meeting with them, or if they do have people with a disability in their organization as well.

Yeah, that is such a great point, Brooke. And without getting on my hobbyhorse, it's your interview. But, you know, often when I hear the unemployment figures, you know, 3.94%, uh, you know, virtually full employment, you feel like saying, well, yeah, sort of, but not really. And, uh, you know, you make that point so clearly there with the fact that people with a disability are very much underemployed compared to what they'd like to be.

Yeah, that is such a great point, Brooke. And without getting on my hobbyhorse, it's your interview. But, you know, often when I hear the unemployment figures, you know, 3.94%, uh, you know, virtually full employment, you feel like saying, well, yeah, sort of, but not really. And, uh, you know, you make that point so clearly there with the fact that people with a disability are very much underemployed compared to what they'd like to be.

Yeah. And they're talented people as well. Um, Peter, you know, we know that they are people with a disability, are talented people with lots of skills and a lot to offer, and they're generally more committed and more devoted to their organization if they get the opportunity. So obviously, the idea of the program, I'll make very clear, is not to get a job within the mentors organization, but we're certainly there to help build all of those wonderful skills that people either do have and just need a bit of refining or helping them gain those skills so that they can go off into the big wide world and show that they are talented and impress, um, organizations out there.

Yeah. And they're talented people as well. Um, Peter, you know, we know that they are people with a disability, are talented people with lots of skills and a lot to offer, and they're generally more committed and more devoted to their organization if they get the opportunity. So obviously, the idea of the program, I'll make very clear, is not to get a job within the mentors organization, but we're certainly there to help build all of those wonderful skills that people either do have and just need a bit of refining or helping them gain those skills so that they can go off into the big wide world and show that they are talented and impress, um, organizations out there.

And if someone has worked in a sort of coming back from whatever, be it an injury or an illness or, you know, developed a disability since they worked or indeed has time off and then coming back, that's okay too. You don't have to be your kind of first job that you're looking for.

And if someone has worked in a sort of coming back from whatever, be it an injury or an illness or, you know, developed a disability since they worked or indeed has time off and then coming back, that's okay too. You don't have to be your kind of first job that you're looking for.

Absolutely. The, the, the the only conditions like so the only if we talk eligibility of the program there's only two points. So one you must identify as having a disability, um, mental health condition or chronic health condition. And then the other bit is that you just have to be over the age of 18 years old. It doesn't matter whether you're at uni starting to look at what's after uni, whether you've got a job and you just want to develop or like you said, um, sometimes life throws us curveballs and some people do develop a disability and that does require them to change careers and professions as well. And we've certainly seen all of those factors in, in our applicants. So it doesn't matter what stage in the career cycle that you're in, you're welcome to apply.

Absolutely. The, the, the the only conditions like so the only if we talk eligibility of the program there's only two points. So one you must identify as having a disability, um, mental health condition or chronic health condition. And then the other bit is that you just have to be over the age of 18 years old. It doesn't matter whether you're at uni starting to look at what's after uni, whether you've got a job and you just want to develop or like you said, um, sometimes life throws us curveballs and some people do develop a disability and that does require them to change careers and professions as well. And we've certainly seen all of those factors in, in our applicants. So it doesn't matter what stage in the career cycle that you're in, you're welcome to apply.

All right. What's the kind of first step people have heard? This is thinking yes, that's me or I know someone that could benefit from this. What do we do from here?

All right. What's the kind of first step people have heard? This is thinking yes, that's me or I know someone that could benefit from this. What do we do from here?

Applications will close on the 16th of March. They are open now. Um, the best thing to do is to jump on our website, Australian Disability Network. And if people were just to Google career mentoring as well, that will help them find the actual mentoring page and literally everything they need to know is is on our website, all the frequently asked Ask questions how to apply. If people are stuck, they are welcome to contact our team. So we have an email which is applications at AWS. So AWS dna.org or our phone numbers one 336 3645. If people are unsure where to go to get the information, they are welcome to reach out to our team and we're happy to help as well.

Applications will close on the 16th of March. They are open now. Um, the best thing to do is to jump on our website, Australian Disability Network. And if people were just to Google career mentoring as well, that will help them find the actual mentoring page and literally everything they need to know is is on our website, all the frequently asked Ask questions how to apply. If people are stuck, they are welcome to contact our team. So we have an email which is applications at AWS. So AWS dna.org or our phone numbers one 336 3645. If people are unsure where to go to get the information, they are welcome to reach out to our team and we're happy to help as well.

Alright, and if people have missed any of that or some of that, they can certainly go to our show notes and all that information, links, phone numbers and email addresses will all be there. Brook good luck. It sounds like a really fantastic opportunity. I'm sure many people will avail themselves of that and will benefit from it as well in the long term, which would be fantastic.

Alright, and if people have missed any of that or some of that, they can certainly go to our show notes and all that information, links, phone numbers and email addresses will all be there. Brook good luck. It sounds like a really fantastic opportunity. I'm sure many people will avail themselves of that and will benefit from it as well in the long term, which would be fantastic.

Thanks so much for having me, Peter.

Thanks so much for having me, Peter.

It's a book out of their book is the program coordinator for the mentoring program at the Australian Disability Network. The chance for you to get involved. Or if you know someone, get in touch and I'm sure you'll be very pleased.

It's a book out of their book is the program coordinator for the mentoring program at the Australian Disability Network. The chance for you to get involved. Or if you know someone, get in touch and I'm sure you'll be very pleased.